Thud.
The heavy wooden chair struck the stone floor with a dull sound.
"Faegan, before we begin the formal lessons, there's something I want to ask you," my father said, his voice deep and commanding.
"What do you think a healer is?"
It was my first day of lessons as the heir to our family's legacy, but dragging a mere five-year-old through intense training from day one would be excessive.
It seemed my father had designated the first lesson as a time for instilling the right mindset—an education in discipline and values.
"A healer is someone who fulfills their purpose by saving lives," I answered.
I barely managed to suppress a chuckle.
In my previous life, I had found meaning in taking lives, yet here I was, speaking of saving them. The sheer irony nearly made me laugh.
"Good answer. A healer must find fulfillment in saving lives," my father nodded approvingly. "Faegan, from today, you will begin learning how to live as the heir of the Claudius family."
Satisfied with my response, he carefully unwrapped the 'core teaching tool' for today's lesson.
Inside a black silk cloth lay hundreds of finely crafted needles. Resting atop them was a pendant.
Though hidden beneath my father's cloak, I knew he carried an identical pendant inside his robe.
A pair of necklaces with an unusually vivid glow—Ahura and Mazda.
These were the sacred relics of the Claudius family, symbolizing the authority of the head and the heir.
"Don't just stare. Try putting Mazda around your neck. I'm curious to see how well it suits you," my father urged.
"Father, I appreciate the honor, but… is it really appropriate for me to wear Mazda already?"
Despite his encouragement, I hesitated to touch the pendant.
Mazda wasn't revered as a sacred heirloom solely because of its radiant beauty.
Like most noble families with deep traditions, the Claudius family had its own unique mana cultivation technique.
It was called Angelus—the very foundation that had made Claudius the most renowned medical household on the continent.
Ahura and Mazda were artifacts that greatly accelerated one's mastery of Angelus. For that reason, the head of the family and the officially recognized heir each held one.
It was natural for my father, the current head, to carry Ahura.
But I had yet to be formally acknowledged as the heir.
And in just two months, my younger sister would be born.
Claiming Mazda before she even entered the world… Wouldn't that be unfair to my future siblings, who would have to compete with me for succession?
"Ha! Are you worried you're being unfair to a sibling who hasn't even been born yet?"
My father let out a hearty laugh, amused by my concerns.
A five-year-old thinking about fairness in an inheritance dispute might seem precocious, but in a noble family like Claudius, it wasn't unheard of.
"You needn't trouble yourself over that. When the time comes, your siblings will have their own opportunities. I respect your desire to prove yourself fairly, but Mazda was created with the purpose of nurturing exceptional healers. It would be a waste to reject its blessings over a fairness issue that doesn't yet exist."
"But Father…"
"It's fine. Besides, it is not I who decides Mazda's rightful owner, but Mazda itself. If one of your siblings proves to be more suitable in the future, Mazda will make that clear."
In the end, my father placed Mazda around my neck himself.
Wooong…
Moments later, a brilliant green light began radiating from the pendant.
Seeing this, my father's smile widened with satisfaction.
"Oh my! A green glow on the very first day! Congratulations, young master!"
Our family's long-serving nanny, overcome with emotion, had tears welling in her eyes. Meanwhile, my father playfully ruffled my hair with a broad grin.
"See? Even Mazda approves of you. Keep those needles safe, too. They'll be your closest companions for at least the next ten years."
"Understood, Father."
I carefully stored the fine metal needles wrapped in silk.
Even through the fabric, I could feel their sharp, chilling touch. My first encounter with these "sharp companions," invaluable in the art of saving lives, was more intense than I had expected.
"Now that you've met Mazda, it's time to begin learning Angelus," my father said. "Faegan, do you know how one measures their mastery of Angelus?"
"By the number of mana rings surrounding the heart."
Most noble families had their own mana cultivation techniques, but they all shared a common principle—the number of mana rings around the heart increased as one's mastery deepened.
"Correct. You're still young and haven't formally trained yet, so you probably haven't formed even a single ring. But if you continue your studies, I believe you'll soon gain a lifelong companion of your own."
"I will do my best."
"Haha, that's the spirit. Look at Mazda—it's glowing with joy at meeting you. I'm sure great things lie ahead."
As if responding to his words, Mazda's green light pulsed faintly.
Father alternated between patting my head and touching Mazda, his laughter filling the room.
"Now, let's begin with the fundamentals—breathing techniques essential for mastering Angelus."
For the next two hours, he patiently guided me through the basics of Angelus. Thanks to his thorough explanations, I was able to grasp the concepts without much difficulty.
A part of me wanted to use my full abilities to surprise him, but I held back.
Even with my father, it wouldn't be wise to reveal everything just yet.
Besides, Angelus isn't the only thing I need to master.
Arca.
Even though I had learned its breathing techniques in my past life, I couldn't take Arca lightly.
While Angelus was an excellent mana technique, the ancient kingdom's legacy—Arca—was far superior in raw performance and effectiveness.
To conserve my strength for Arca, I couldn't afford to overexert myself on Angelus.
I kept my efforts at less than half of my actual capability, yet my father seemed more than satisfied.
"Let's end today's lesson here. You're progressing faster than I anticipated. If you continue at this pace, you'll achieve remarkable results in no time."
He reached out with his large, calloused hand and gently wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Phew…"
"You did wonderfully, young master! Here, have something cool to drink."
The nanny, her eyes brimming with emotion, handed me a chilled drink.
After taking a sip and a deep breath, I felt refreshed.
"From now on, the family's specialists will guide you in various subjects. For now, I'd rather you focus on Angelus and one additional field. You may choose whichever subject you wish to study alongside Angelus."
The Claudius family's training system wasn't about spoon-feeding knowledge.
The family head only directly taught Angelus.
Other essential subjects—healing magic, the use of medical tools, and more—were taught by assigned experts.
The head's role was to refine the heir's Angelus, provide insight when they faced obstacles, and assess their progress.
"One can be given opportunities for enlightenment, but only they themselves can attain true understanding."
That was a fundamental principle of the Claudius family.
"Father, in that case, I would like to study this."
"…Anatomy?"
My father's eyes flickered with surprise.
"I won't go back on my word, but that's unexpected. Most beginners are drawn to healing spells or recovery sigils. Why anatomy?"
Anatomy was a difficult and tedious subject, infamous for its demanding memorization and relentless repetition.
"Anatomy offers almost no direct use of mana," he warned. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Father."
"You understand this means you won't be able to test your Angelus skills for a while?"
"I understand."
"Very well. I'll inform Richard, our anatomy instructor. He will seek you out tomorrow."
Still, my father couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Faegan, why choose anatomy over everything else?"
I met his gaze, my voice steady and clear.
"Because the body is the vessel that holds the soul."